HAIRPUR, Aug 15: The increasing inflow of water in the Tarbela reservoir has enhanced its level to 1,543 feet leaving the storage capacity only seven feet of water which was expected to touch the mark of maximum conservation level during the next five days, sources said here on Friday.

Due to filling of Tarbela reservoir, the power generation capacity also increased to 3,682 megawatts which was 204 megawatts more than its rated capacity.

Sources privy to the daily record of inflow and outflow said that on Friday evening the inflow was 212,300 cusecs and the outflow was 183,100 cusecs while the level stood at 1,543 feet, which was only seven feet short of its maximum conservation level of 1,550 feet.

They said that like every year, the reservoir would be filled to its maximum conservation level of 1,550 feet on August 20 and the spillways of the dam would be opened to release surplus water.

About power generation capacity, the sources said that it was recorded as 3,682 megawatts on Friday, which was 204 megawatts more than its rated capacity of power generation of 3,478 megawatts.

Built with a cost of $2.65 billion during the early ’70s, after inundating over 100 villages of district Haripur, the country’s biggest dam has been irrigating a large part of the country and has rated capacity of power generation of 3,478 megawatts from its 14 power generating units.